DEAN TONES

A SOUTH TYNESIDE SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT WITH OVER A MILLION CHILD ABUSE IMAGES HAS BEEN SPARED JAIL FOR FURTHER OFFENDING - BUT WARNED HE IS IN LAST CHANCE SALOON.

Dean Tones, who resides on Sycamore Avenue in South Shields, was brought back to court for a subsequent offence, two years following his initial conviction.

The 35-year-old appeared before a judge at Newcastle Crown Court in September 2022 after admitting to possessing a large collection of illicit images on his computer.

He received a three-year community order, was registered as a sex offender, and was issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

However, Tones violated the terms of the SHPO—specifically restrictions related to internet use and electronic devices—just two months after the order was issued.

In response to this breach, he was handed a 12-month sentence suspended on conditions during a subsequent hearing.

Later, Tones was called before the court once more after breaking the order a second time, in the period between May 1 and July 31 of this year.

He confessed to deleting his Google Chrome browser from a device without notifying authorities, an act which contravenes the conditions of the SHPO.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Zoe Passfield chose not to activate the previously suspended sentence, citing Tones’ cooperation with the Probation Service.

Nevertheless, she issued a stern warning: “I am concerned about the second breach.

There cannot be any further violations.

If you are unsure about what your order permits, you must seek clarification.

You have now exhausted your chances, and no further offences can be tolerated.” Prosecutor Reece Williamson reported that a detective visited Tones’ residence as part of the risk review under the sexual harm prevention order.

During the visit, discrepancies were noticed concerning the defendant’s Firefox browser history.

He claimed to have used Google Chrome, which he had deleted, thus breaching the order.

Defending solicitor Alastair Naismith noted that the breaches seemed to stem from naivety rather than malicious intent, suggesting Tones may not have fully understood the risks.

The judge extended the initial suspended sentence by six months, imposed an additional 12-month community order including mental health treatment, and ordered Tones to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

His original collection of illicit images peaked at 1,067 in the most serious category A, with 917 in category B, and over one million in category C.